Northwestern University’s Board of Trustees named Purdue President Mung Chiang as the school’s next president, with his start date set for July 1. Chiang will succeed former President Michael Schill, who resigned in September 2025. Interim President Henry Bienen will stay in the role through the end of June. The announcement follows a recent period of campus unrest and leadership turnover at Northwestern tied to how the university handled student protests. Bienen’s continued interim leadership should provide continuity as Chiang moves into a role that will be closely watched by students, faculty, and donors. For higher education leaders, the transition underscores how governance bodies are pairing academic stature with reputational risk management—especially at institutions navigating protest policy, campus climate, and faculty trust alongside enrollment and financial pressures.